Aleppo (Agenzia Fides) – The refusal of the anti-Assad forces to humanitarian truce in Aleppo proposed by the UN envoy Staffan de Mistura is “a serious matter” and proves once again that the Syrian conflict “will not end until all the forces that are fueling it from the outside want to make it last”.

This is how Bishop Georges Abou Khazen OFM, Apostolic Vicar of Aleppo for the Catholics of the Latin rite, considers the refusal with which the groups – including those supported by the West – have rejected the idea of a cease-fire that would allow to bring aid to the population of the metropolis battered by years of conflict. Continue reading →

Terrorist group Islamic State (IS) has started killing hostages seized after it took Assyrian Christian villages in Syria’s Hassake governorate – with reports that around 15 are dead. Continue reading →

In the past, Syria had one of the most storied Christian communities in the world. St. Paul was even baptized there. Today, Christians suffer from the Syrian civil war like everyone else, but they are also persecuted simply for their baptism.

Syria once had the third highest rate of Christianity in the Middle East; about 10 percent of its population identified as Christian. Now, the community lives in permanent exile.

The documentary “Syria’s Christians Exodus” tells the story of how this happened.

ELISABETTA VALGIUSTI – Director, “Syria’s Christians Exodus”

“They have suffered severe persecution just so they can maintain their identity and their faith. They continue to suffer so that they can remain in a country they have belonged to for hundreds of years. We are witnessing something truly terrible.”

The documentary features interviews with patriarchs and bishops of the Christian Churches in Syria. It also includes testimony from everyday Christians who have been forced to leave—along with those who have stayed.

“They are Christians with a wonderful tradition and enormous faith. For me, it was an amazing experience to know them.”

The humanitarian crisis in Syria is considered one of the worst in decades. Millions of people have fled their homes and more than 210,000 have died. This documentary helps keep the catastrophe from being forgotten.

Damascus (Agenzia Fides) – Yesterday the central areas and suburbs of Damascus were hit by intense firing rockets and mortar shells, both from areas under rebel control and from the artillery of the government army. Continue reading →

Pope Francis called for a “negotiated solution” to assist those suffering from persecution and violence in Syria and Iraq. The Holy Father made his appeal during an audience with the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Easter Orthodox Churches today at the Vatican.

During his address, the Holy Father thanked the members for promoting unity between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The Commission met this week to discuss the nature of the Sacraments, particularly Baptism.

Help us to help others!

Initiative of the ONLUS Mission Office of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) Word in order to create awareness regarding the plight of Christians in Syria and to raise funds for the alleviation of their needs. Our missionaries serve in the city of Aleppo. They are assisting spiritually and materially the victims of armed conflict. Your support is very valuable . . . thousands of people who are suffering the consequences of the war will be grateful for your help.